C Student? Middling marks for Ron DeSantis fiscal policy from libertarian Cato Institute
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens during a news conference Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Florida Governor
'It would have been better to enact permanent tax reforms.'

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ storied Free State of Florida falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to fiscal policy.

And tax gimmicks are the reason why, claims a libertarian think tank in its annual report on how the nation’s Governors are managing the public financial trust.

The Cato Institute gives the Sunshine State’s chief executive a Gentleman’s C.

Temporary tax breaks strike the scholars as performative half-measures, essentially, despite Florida being the “second freest state” in its reckoning.

“DeSantis approved a temporary reduction in the corporate tax rate and a bill to avoid business tax increases related to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. DeSantis has frequently signed legislation providing temporary tax breaks, including annual sales tax holidays, rebates, a suspension of the gas tax, and similar sorts of breaks. Using budget surpluses for temporary tax breaks has reduced funds available for spending, but it would have been better to enact permanent tax reforms.”

Cato does credit DeSantis for his vetoes of legislative budget items, saying he does not “shy away” from making cuts. Left unsaid is that many of his cuts are politically retributive rather than driven by a strict profit and loss perspective.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


One comment

  • THE SAGE "E"

    October 19, 2024 at 12:41 pm

    Good Afternoon America,
    STAND BY FOR NEWS:
    This CATO Institute is a George Soros funded group of 100% “DOOK 4 BRAINS LEFTYS”. So Duh … of course they are going to give America’s Govornor, Ron DeSantis, and his Beautiful Wife Casey low marks.
    Both Ron & Casey ‘Truley” score A+++ Ratings … with an additional 37 points “Extra Credit”.
    Thank you America,
    *I’m just glad I was able to insert this “Rating Correction” prior to a bunch of you having read the above Soros Prodaganda*
    Yours Truley,
    THE SAGE “E”

    Reply

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